“‘Swear to me on your honor that you will be as silent as the grave——’
“‘As the grave,’ repeated Beaudenord.
“‘That if one of your relatives were concerned in this secret, he should not know it.’
“‘No.’
“‘Very well. Nucingen started to-night for Brussels. He must file his schedule if he cannot arrange a settlement. This very morning Delphine petitioned for the separation of her estate. You may still save your fortune.’
“‘How?’ faltered Godefroid; the blood turned to ice in his veins.
“‘Simply write to the Baron de Nucingen, antedating your letter a fortnight, and instruct him to invest all your capital in shares.’—Rastignac suggested Claparon and Company, and continued—‘You have a fortnight, a month, possibly three months, in which to realize and make something; the shares are still going up——’
“‘But d’Aiglemont, who was here at breakfast with us, has a million in Nucingen’s bank.’
“‘Look here; I do not know whether there will be enough of these shares to cover it; and besides, I am not his friend, I cannot betray Nucingen’s confidence. You must not speak to d’Aiglemont. If you say a word, you must answer to me for the consequences.’
“Godefroid stood stock still for ten minutes.